Once you land in San Jose, your guide will meet you at the airport and drive you to your overnight accommodation in San Jose. Relax and prepare for the next week of adventure!
Accommodation: Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
During 8 active days, you’ll hike and raft through Manuel Antonio National Park. The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is a treasure chest of natural beauty where rainforest meets the beach and the sea. Enjoy a swim under the waterfalls, witness the simmering volcanoes and let your professional guide take you to the most picturesque locations of Central America and introduce you to the endemic flora and fauna.
Once you land in San Jose, your guide will meet you at the airport and drive you to your overnight accommodation in San Jose. Relax and prepare for the next week of adventure!
Accommodation: Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
The adventure begins! Some of Costa Rica’s most spectacular scenery is along the foothills of the Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes, to the upper gateway to the raging Pacuare River. After lunch at the riverbank, get into rafts and paddle through pristine rainforest and canyons dotted with deafening waterfalls. By afternoon, you’ll arrive at your comfortable riverside camp, El Nido del Tigre. Wander off and explore this lush environment, looking out for toucans, boas and sloths, or relax in a hammock to the sounds of the nearby river.
Rafting: 10km/6mi
Rafting class: II-III
Accommodation: Camping in tents (sleeping bag, pad, etc. provided)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
The Pacuare River will carry you through river-carved canyons and cascading waterfalls. Maneuver through the rapids and in gentler sections, enjoy the rainforest at the river’s edge. Along the way, hike to the waterfalls, jump in to swim in the calmer parts of the river and have lunch on the shore. Afterward, drive to the small town of La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano right in front of you. There are plenty of great and interesting food options in Fortuna. In the evening, relax with your group in the hotel and enjoy the sounds of Costa Rica.
Rafting: 25km/16mi
Rafting class: III-IV
Accommodation: Hotel San Bosco
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
In the morning, spend 2 hours walking the Arenal hanging bridges with wonderful panoramic views of the Arenal volcano and lake Arenal, then continue to the breathtaking Rio Fortuna waterfall. The fall drops 120ft/ 35m into a large natural swimming pool. The hike down is steep and full of spectacular flora and fauna. Spend the afternoon on your own: explore the town of La Fortuna, relax in your hotel, or go on one of the optional tours. In the evening, go to one of Arenal’s famous hot springs and have dinner by the waterside.
Hiking: 2 hours
Accommodation: Hotel San Bosco
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
It takes about 4-5 hours to get from La Fortuna to Quepos and Manuel Antonio National Park. The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is a treasure chest of natural beauty where rainforest meets the beach and the sea. You will often hear the local monkeys (howlers, white-faced and squirrel are the most common in the area) and see iguanas and land crabs. This area is well developed for tourism, with numerous options for food and beach-related adventures, from snorkeling to deep-sea fishing, porpoise tours to mangrove nature trips. Talk with your guides to arrange any extra activities or reserve you spot upon booking.
Driving: 5 hours
Accommodations: Local 4-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Spend the morning on your own and explore the area before returning to your hotel in San Jose, about 3 hours away. Spend your last evening taking in the sights and sounds of San Jose.
Driving: 3 hours
Accommodation: Sleep Inn Hotel Paseo Las Damas
Meals: Breakfast
Your driver will pick you up after breakfast and take you to the airport. Say goodbye to your group and guides, take a few last photos and head back home!
Meals: Breakfast
Zipline
3 hours for $85, lunch included
Feel the adrenaline of zipping through a tropical forest on a series of 14 suspension platforms high above the forest floor! Spend about 45 minutes zipping on a pulley along with the cables, moving from platform to platform using nothing but gravity.
Ocean kayaking and snorkeling
4 hours for $69, lunch included
Paddle past islands and inlets where you see numerous marine aviary species and their nesting grounds. You’ll stop at a hidden bay to rest and enjoy a snack. Take advantage of the break to snorkel on Bisanz beach. You are likely to spot parrotfish, starfish, angelfish and if you are lucky, a sea turtle or two!
Islas Damas mangrove kayaking
4 hours for $85, lunch or dinner included
Kayak on protected inland waterways, the perfect place to explore coastal mangroves in search of wildlife such as caimans, crocodiles, boas, white-faced monkeys, and much more.
Isla Damas mangrove boat trip
4 hours for $90, lunch or dinner included
Don’t miss out on Isla Damas just because you don’t want to kayak. Treat yourself to boating the estuary with a guide showing you this unique ecosystem and its wildlife—caimans, sloths, crocodiles, boas, white-face monkeys, and more!
Educational tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
2 1/2 hours for $74
Get the most out of your visit to Manuel Antonio National Park with an experienced naturalist guide. Learn about the history, flora, fauna, bugs, and wildlife. The tour includes snacks and refreshments.
Catamaran and snorkeling adventure
4 hours for $89, lunch or dinner included
The Ocean King catamaran is brand new and it has all the amenities. On board, you have snacks, alcoholic beverages, and unlimited soft and natural drinks. Enjoy the dolphin watching and snorkeling as well.
Included:
Not included:
These Costa Rica active adventures are designed for everyone! You have to have a healthy spirit of adventure and good general fitness. There are no specific requirements for whitewater rafting, but you will fully participate in paddling.
If you’re up for some light walking and a week-long active vacation, you’re good to go! Optional activities, such as zipline, ocean kayaking and snorkeling, mangrove kayaking, surf lessons, and more can be arranged at an additional cost—you can find additional information below and let us know what you’re interested in upon checkout.
Of course! Your guides want to make your Costa Rica adventure unforgettable, and they’ll help you customize the trip to your liking. Here’s a breakdown of optional activities, prices are per person:
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Due to the terrain, it’s recommended to bring good quality mountain gear. Your guides will contact you about any additional equipment at the time of contracting the trip.
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season.
One of the best parts of traveling in Costa Rica is the food! Included meals will be a mix of local restaurants, authentic Costa Rican cuisine, and delicious dishes prepared by your tour guides—you can find day-by-day included meals in the itinerary. For any meals not covered in the adventure, you can expect to spend around $10-$12 for lunch and $12-$20 for dinner.
Your guides are happy to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets at no extra cost. If you have any allergies or specific dietary needs, please inform us upon checkout so we can ensure a seamless and enjoyable dining experience.
Group sizes and prices:
Hiking in Costa Rica can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Costa Rica, most people fly into Juan Santamaria International Airport in San José. Your guide will then pick you up at the airport at a pre-arranged time and take you on your tour. On the final day of your adventure, your guide will also transport you back to the airport. Airport transfers are included in the price of the tour.
Tours are scheduled to fit with the seasons and ideal hiking conditions. When the weather does not cooperate, your guide will know the correct course of action to take. Whether that’s shifting to a more favorable location or postponing until conditions approve, your guide will know just what to do. In Costa Rica, there are plenty of backup options for rainy days. In the event of predictably bad weather, you will be contacted prior to the trip to discuss suitable alternatives.
Your guides require all participants to have travel and medical insurance.
To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A combination of US dollars and credit/debit cards is ideal, it’s best to bring notes in good condition
and lower than $100. Traveler checks are not a good idea. Cards are widely accepted but smaller
stores or street sellers may only take local cash. There are ATMs along the way. Check with your
bank to make sure your card will work internationally.
How much you need will depend on your spending habits. You will need to pay for some meals ($10-$20 per meal), drinks, souvenirs and tipping.
If you felt your local guides and drivers did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated! It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service.
The Departure Tax in Costa Rica is $29. This needs to be paid at the airport using US or local cash
or any major credit card. Pay this tax before going to the airline counter. Check with your airline if
this fee is already included on your flight ticket.